BRENDA Pitchford has been training intensively for the moment she will cross the finish line of the Great North Run – on foot.

It is a moment she never thought she would see, after at the age of just 27 developing a mysterious brain condition which left her confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak.

Baffled doctors told her she would never walk again.

She had just completed her third degree, a PHD in chemistry, and was looking forward to a promising career, when disaster struck.

She developed a brain condition similar to a stroke, but was not a stroke, and doctors still do not understand fully hat happened.

For the last 15 years, since leaving hospital, she has been a resident at Marske Hall care home, run by the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, and has slowly been learning to talk, to eat, and now to walk again, through intensive physiotherapy.

Brenda is hoping to raise £5,000 for Leonard Cheshire Disability, which will go towards new physio and rehabilitation equipment at Marske Hall.

Ruth Hebden, volunteer co-ordinator at Marske Hall, said: "Brenda is determined to support her fellow residents, many of whom are also working hard to maintain or regain strength and mobility. The money that she and the volunteers raise will have a long-lasting, positive effect on the residents at the home."

Another inspirational participant of Sunday's events is nine-year-old Harriette Parker Harrison, from Darlington, who has complex health problems after being born prematurely and spending the first two years of her life in intensive care.

Harriette can't walk or talk, but she loves the sensation of running, and takes part in the Parkrun every week.

Now she is to take on the bigger challenge of the Junior Great North Run, pushed by her father.

She is raising money for assistance dog charity Support Dogs, which trains assistance dogs for children with autism, epilepsy and other disabilities. Her step-sister Amy Twamley works there as a dog trainer.

"Harriette loves the sensation of running, and hearing people cheering, and always has a great time whizzing around," said Amy. "She has and always will have a huge amount of help and support throughout her life, so wanted to help other disabled people to enjoy the outdoors and lead an active life as much as she does, by raising money for Support Dogs."

To support Ms Whittle, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Manystepsfornextsteps and to support Harriette, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Harriette-Parker-harrison